There are many activities travelers can add to their itineraries when heading to a state like New York. New York is magical for all of the wonderful things it offers!
Whether you’re a full-time resident who’s lived in New York for years, or you’re simply visiting for a weekend getaway, there are plenty of reasons to get excited about the destination. While we’re on the topic of New York, click here to meet the 10 biggest musicians from the state.
To gather this list of 20 things New York is known for, 247 Tempo consulted several travel websites. Some of these include Expert World Travel and Travel Drafts.
New York’s nickname: The Big Apple
New York has one of the most popular state nicknames of all time. While people living on the West Coast or East Coast might not know state nicknames for places like Kansas, Minnesota, or Indiana, just about everyone in America knows New York’s nickname. It’s affectionately referred to as “The Big Apple.” A sports writer named John J. Fitzgerald popularized the nickname for it in the 1920s.
Broadway shows and musicals
When you take a trip to New York, purchasing tickets for Broadway show and musicals is considered an absolute must. Some of the biggest Broadway shows in New York history include “Wicked,” “Chicago,” and “Moulin Rouge!” There’s a reason passionate actors from around the globe are willing to relocate to New York with big dreams of making it on Broadway.
Bagel bakeries
The most popular breakfast food to chomp down on in New York is the bagel. Bagel bakeries are easy to locate in New York starting in the lower Eastside, all the way to the upper east side. In the 1800s, bagels were baked as inexpensive yet delicious treats for Jewish immigrants who resided in Manhattan. To this day, bagels are still considered a delicious delicacy to New York’s residents and visitors.
Robert De Niro and other New York-born celebrities
One of the most noteworthy actors of all time is Robert De Niro. He was born in 1943 in New York City. De Niro isn’t the only major celebrity who was originally born in the Big Apple. Adam Sandler, Paris Hilton, Anne Hathaway, Madonna, and Cindy Lauper can claim New York as their hometown.
It’s worth noting that celebs like Anderson Cooper, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Cruise, Scarlett Johansson, Sylvester Stallone, and Alec Baldwin were born there also. The list goes on with Al Pacino, Mariah Carey, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Jordan, Eddie Murphy, Denzel Washington, and so many more.
New York-style pizza
While Chicago is known for deep dish pizzas, New York is known for thin crust pizza. It isn’t much of a challenge to track down pizza joints to order New York-style thin crust pizza in different neighborhoods throughout the Big Apple. Whether you’re hoping to order a pizza topped with pepperoni, mushrooms, pineapples, or something else, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for without a hitch.
The New York Jets, New York Knicks, and other sports teams
The sports teams of New York are some of the most beloved and well-known sports teams in America. The New York Jets are part of the NFL while the New York Knicks and Nets are part of the NBA. The New York Mets and Yankees are both part of the MLB. As far as soccer goes, they’ve got the New York City FC and the Red Bulls. The ice hockey team is called the New York Rangers. Women’s basketball hasn’t been neglected in New York, either, thanks to the Liberty team.
Times Square
Would a trip to New York be complete without taking time to observe the allure of Times Square? The reason Times Square is such a fabulous New York destination is that it’s full of endless fun things to do. Some activities to enjoy in Times Square include snapping pics with your favorite costumed characters, visiting souvenir-filled shops, and checking out the ginormous flashing advertisement screens.
The Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic skyscrapers in the entire world. Since it’s so tall, it makes a significant impact on the skyline of New York as a whole. It’s 1454 feet high and offers stunning views of the entire city when you’re standing at the top. The Empire State building is full of rich history that will get you excited about the entire state of New York. You can purchase tickets to climb up to the top during your trip.
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is thought of as one of the most important historical American symbols. It was given to the United States as a gift from France. It’s meant to serve as a sign of alliance and friendship. The Statue of Liberty is represents a beautiful Roman goddess with crown spikes that symbolize the different oceans and continents. When the statue was first gifted, she was a copper color. Now, she’s recognized for her blue-green color.
Street food, including hotdogs carts
You don’t have to worry about snagging reservations at expensive or upscale restaurants every night while vacationing in New York City. There are street food options nearly everywhere you turn! Some of the most popular street food options you’ll find in New York are hotdog carts. You can also purchase kebabs, fish and chips, burritos, tacos, and corn from roadside vendors as well.
The Manhattan Cocktail
Alcohol drinkers are welcome to order whatever cocktails they want, but one cocktail in particular deserves a little more attention for its name. The Manhattan Cocktail is named after the sparkling city. Sipping on this drink means tasting a combination of rye whiskey or bourbon with sweet vermouth. Some bartenders will garnish this drink with a maraschino cherry for aesthetics.
The Hamptons
The Hamptons has long been thought of as one of the ritziest vacation spots for wealthy individuals. It’s a luxurious resort-style community full of beautiful landscapes and million-dollar mansions. New York residents hoping for a break from the hustle and bustle of city list can retreat to the Hamptons for some beach-centered relaxation.
Central Park
There’s much to adore and admire about Central Park in New York. The park is 843 acres in size with loads of trees and lush green grass. Guided tours are offered in Central ark for people who’ve never walked the area on their own. This is the perfect place to go if you’re having an outdoor picnic, walking your dog, plucking flowers, or birdwatching.
The Brooklyn Bridge
The 19th century is the era when the Brooklyn Bridge was first built. It was considered a fabulous accomplishment at the time because of its top-tier engineering. The Brooklyn Bridge is the first suspension bridge to make use of steel for the purposes of cable wiring. The bridge exist as a way for people to get back-and-forth from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
Wall Street
Anyone interested in seeing Wall Street in person can actually check it out when spending time in New York. The street exists in the financial district of lower Manhattan. In terms of its length, it spans across eight city blocks. The most noteworthy American brokerages and investment banking firms are located directly on Wall Street. True events that took place there inspired the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street” starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Niagara Falls
People who appreciate seeing the wonders of nature will undoubtedly enjoy spending time near Niagara Falls. The massive waterfalls have been described as beautiful and breathtaking by visitors from all over the world. There are three waterfalls to lay eyes on when visiting Niagara Falls. These include Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls.
Public transportation
Teenagers growing up in West Coast and states like California, Arizona, or Nevada go through the process of learning how to drive so they can get their drivers licenses and vehicles. The same rules don’t apply in New York! Public transportation is so common in New York that many residents who are born and raised there never take time to learn how to drive their own cars. Taxis, subways, and ferries are everywhere.
Giant-sized rats
The rats crawling around New York are considered more of a nuisance than a danger at this point. There size is probably the scariest detail of all, though. Each year, tons of videos circulate on social media of giant-sized rats almost as big as cats running around on the streets of New York. They also spend time clattering through sewers, subway stations, and sidewalk gutters.
“Friends” and other TV shows/movies
One of the most iconic shows of the 90s was “Friends” starring Jennifer Aniston, David, Schwimmer, and the late Matthew Perry — just to name a few. “Friends” isn’t the only popular TV show or movie to be filmed in New York, though. “Gossip girl,” “Sex and the City,” “Law and Order” are some of the bigger TV shows to take into account.
“Autumn in New York,” “Uptown Girls,” and “Black Swan” are some highly-rated films that used New York as a backdrop. Click here to read about the 10 biggest movie stars who were born in New York.